Lip-Smacking Indian Cuisines

The Land of Spices, India boasts of several mouth-watering cuisines which delight the gourmet the world over no end. So much so that when they fail to find Indian food in their respective nations, they, taking the fabled Spice Route, travel to India on the spice trail to enjoy the various tasty and lip-smacking Indian cuisines.

In fact, the Indian curry has carved a name for itself on the food map of the world. From London to Libya, from Montreal to the Middle East–the food lovers simply love devouring the spicy and lip-smacking Indian food. The entire South East Asian region loves the spicy and hot Indian food and the local cuisines of the area show strong Indian influence.

This is not to suggest that Indian cuisines do not reflect foreign influence. Actually, the Indian food shows strong foreign influence especially of the Middle East, Central Asia, Mediterranean, and Europe (particularly Portugal and England). Tomato, chilies, and potato used generously and commonly in preparing the various food items in India were introduced to India by Portugal.

Clever and generous use of various spices such as chilies, black mustard, cumin, turmeric, fenugreek, ginger, coriander, asafetida, garlic, and clove distinguish the Indian food which is, interestingly, identified by its distinct aroma, flavor and color.

Earlier, majority of the Indians–mostly Buddhists, Jains, and the Hindus–were vegetarians due to religious reasons, but now a sizeable section of the country are non-vegetarians and relish non-vegetarian products such as chicken, eggs, fish and meat.

That’s why a variety of mouth-watering non-vegetarian food items such as chicken curry, butter chicken, chicken masala, fish curry, and prawn curry are prepared all over India and relished by people. Indian Butter chicken and chicken masala, in fact, have become popular all over the world. Butter chicken is now the national dish of the United Kingdom, and has replaced the nation’s former national dish, Fish & Chips.

Categorized Indian Cuisines

Being a vast country India boasts of several tasty and distinct cuisines which vastly differ from one region to another. Indian cuisines can be broadly divided into five distinct units: North India Cuisine, South India Cuisine, East India Cuisine, West India Cuisine, and North-East India Cuisine.

North India Cuisine

The cuisine of north India is dominated by Punjabi, Kashmiri, and Lucknavi cuisines. Milk products such as clarified butter, cheese, and curd are generously used by the food lovers of this region. And, Groundnut Oil is mainly used to prepare the various food items.

South India Cuisine

Liberal use of rice and its products and various spices, along with coconut and curry leaves, make the cuisine of South India lip-smacking. Dosa, Rasam, Sambar Dal, and Payasam are some of the many main tasty food items of this region. Coconut oil is mainly used to prepare the various food items of this area.

East India Cuisine

Generous use of Mustard oil and Panchfuran (clever mix of five spices) for preparing the various delicacies characterizes the cuisines of East India. A variety of sweets such as Misti Doi (sweetened curd) and Roshgolla are special delicacies of this region.

West India Cuisine

Konkani, Goan, Maharashtrian, and Parsi cuisines make West India Cuisine. While in the coastal areas of this region fish is generously used, in the interiors poultry and meat are used by the non-vegetarians. And, Groundnut Oil is mainly used to prepare the various food items in this region.

North East India Cuisine

The cuisine of this area shows strong Chinese and Burmese influence. Rice is the staple diet of the people and beef is consumed by the non-vegetarians rather generously. This is a distinct feature of the North East India Cuisine, and it much adds to the appeal of the lip-smacking Indian cuisines making it even more appetizing in the eyes of the food lovers all over the world.